Taxco
Taxco is a beautiful city in Mexico built on a hill in Guerrero. It is rich with old and new silver mines, it has narrow streets and hundreds of silver shops. If you are looking for a side trip that is the place to go. Taxco Mexico is renowned for its more than 200-year-old baroque-style church, the Santa Prisca Cathedral.
Get in
It is off the toll way but it is worth the drive, it is between Acapulco and Mexico City. There is regular bus service to the town from Cuernavaca by Estrella Blanca.
There are also buses there from Mexico City from the South Bus Station (Autobuses del Sur). A one-way ticket costs $130 pesos and they usually leave every half hour. The bus will take you through very scenic mountain views and drop you off in the middle of the town. Since it is a mountain town, you can either walk uphill to the Zocolo (square) where many shops and the famous church are, take a taxi, or any bus that says "Zocalo".
The last bus out of Taxco back to Mexico City is 8PM
Get around
Walking is the best way to get around Taxco.
Taxis (Wolkswagens) are relatively inexpensive ($20-$30 pesos). Collectivos (combis) are also a good option to get around town -- most go through the Zocalo and a local can help you find the right one.
See
At the center of the city lies the Santa Prisca Cathedral, built during the 1700s. There is a statue of Jesus at the very top of the town, called "Cristo." The view from up there is amazing.
There is a silver "museum" in a beautiful building called Casa Borda which also serves as a cultural centre. Located on the main plaza itself. In 2010, much of the building was being renovated, but there was a nice exhibit of silver jewelry.
Ten kilometers to the south is Taxco el Viejo (Old Taxco). In pre-Hispanic times, the village was the most important area of the Mesoamerican indigenous community.
Do
Get a lot of exercise walking up the steep streets.
There is a gondola (teleferico) than can take you up to a fancy hotel called Monte Taxco, with great views and a decent bar/restaurant. There is not much else to see/do up there.
Buy
Silver! There is very beautiful silver, mostly all engraved with "MEXICO 925" or "TAXCO 925" The silver shops away from the centro are where you can bargain. You will be charmed and ecstatic at all the beautiful silver, but will get tired of looking at it in 4 hours or less. You will also be approached by men, women, and children selling you items in the centro (plaza centrál). If you are not interested in being bothered, do not give them any eye contact. Once one finds you are slightly interested, all the other vendors will come try to sell their goods.
- Taxco.925 (Mexican Silver Store).
Eat
Try the Pozolé. It is a soup-like dish of large corn pieces called hominy, pork rind/fat, avocado, and some crispy tortilla crumbles. Try it at the top of the hill above the small covered market which sells silver. It's cheap, tasty, and filling. It's a great dish to try if you want to experience Mexican food. Thursdays are the traditional pozolé days during which the red and green varieties are typically served. The white style is served the other days of the week.
- Cafe Balbas, Avenida de los plateros 198 (Beside of the Hotel Loma Linda), ☏ +52 762 6271435, efbalbas@hotmail.com. from 6 PM until 1 AM. The Balbas Cafe next to Hotel Loma Linda has been voted the best cafe in all of Taxco. They serve everything from sandwiches to crepes to full dinner meals, as well as alcohol if coffee doesn't do it for you. The terrace in the back overlooking the mountains and the city is beautiful. Prices are cheap, around $60 pesos at most for any item, many are in the $35-range.
Sleep
- Hotel Casa Grande is the cheapest digs in town ($15 for a single with shared bath). It is a 400 year old building just off the Plazuela and is about a block from Santa Prisca and the Zocolo. Rooms are arranged around a courtyard, some are great, some are a little scruffy with semi-functional bathrooms, so ask to see a few. The rooftop terrace is really great for relaxing and looking out at the city.
- For a little fancier accommodations the Hotel Santa Prisca is a beautiful place with a fountain and lush court yard.
- The Agua Escondida is right on the Zocalo and has a nice pool. Ask for the cheaper rooms at 350 Pesos.
- Mi Casita, Guerrero 1. Located off the plazuelita. Lovely inexpensive hotel with great views run by a nice family.
Connect
The Restaurant of the Hotel Agua Escondido has free WiFi - ask for the WEP-Key or 'contraseña', in Spanish.
The Balbas Cafe next to Hotel Loma Linda has been voted the best cafe in all of Taxco. They serve everything from sandwiches to crepes to full dinner meals, as well as alcohol if coffee doesn't do it for you. The terrace in the back overlooking the mountains and the city is beautiful. Prices are cheap, around $60 pesos at most for any item, many are in the $35-range.